Synthesis and characterization of rod-like ZnO decorated with γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles monolayer

Decorated rod-like ZnO particles with g-Fe2O3 nanoparticles monolayer (ZnO@g-Fe2O3) were prepared via a simple route using forced hydrolysis of metal acetates in a polyol medium. The phases and purity of the as-prepared particles were established by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the ZnO particles present a typical rod-like morphology with similar to 80 nm diameter and similar to 200-400 nm length. These nanorods are decorated with well-organized g-Fe2O3 spherical nanoparticles showing a narrow size distribution around 5 nm. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the bare ZnO particles show predominant UV-excitonic and weak visible emission. The latter vanishes after covering the surface with the g-Fe2O3 nanoparticles suggesting an effect on the oxygen stoichiometry at the surface of the ZnO nanorods. The decorated nanoparticles exhibit magnetic response to an external magnetic field at room temperature and a superparamagnetic character with very low blocking temperature likely related to the organisation of g-Fe2O3 nanoparticles as monolayer. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.